The State of Louisiana has agreed to postpone plans to fence off Duncan Plaza near City Hall until Dec. 21, in order to allow social service providers more time to find shelter for about 150 homeless people who have been living in the park.

Crews will begin erecting the fence on Dec. 11 around the entire square block area, which is bounded by Loyola Avenue and Gravier, Perdido and LaSalle streets, but the area will not be closed to the public until Dec. 21. The site will then be cleaned by the Downtown Development District, according to Mayor Ray Nagin's office.

A controversy erupted this week when the state announced it would begin fencing off the area starting Tuesday, in order to prepare to demolish an office building and a building that formerly housed the state Supreme Court. On Thursday, the City Council passed a resolution asking the state to delay the start date until housing could be found for the homeless occupants.